Alabama Authors

Category: All

  • FULTS, JOHN LEE, 1932-

    Engineer. Born– March 14, 1932, in Bell Buckle, Tenn. Parents– Virnie Lee and Mattie (Dilbridge) Fults.  Married– Anne Simmons, August 26, 1961. Children– Two. Education–  Middle Tennessee State College, B.S., 1958.  Employed as farmer, grocery clerk;  high school teacher in Manchester and Tullahoma, Tenn; engineering aide, 1957-1961; planning analyst, 1961-1962; Tennessee Highway Dept.; engineer, Hayes…

  • FRASIER, SCOTTIE McKENZIE, 1884-1964

    Teacher, writer; lecturer. Born– Talladega, September 7, 1884.  Parents– William and Leila (Hood) McKenzie. Married– Alfred Smith Frasier, October 21, 1908. Education– Talladega High School, 1901; Judson College, 1903; School of Journalism, Columbia University, 1914. Taught in public schools in Talladega and Greenville and in Albertville Agricultural College. Appointed assistant lady principal of Judson College, 1908,…

  • FANN, WILLIAM EDWIN, 1930-

    Biography: Psychiatrist; professor of medicine.  Born– March 22, 1930, Mobile. Parents– William Zachary and Elberta (Gulledge) Fann. Married– Virginia Lee James, May 31, 1958. Children– Three. Education– Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn), B.S., 1955; Medical College of Alabama, M.D., 1959. Served as chief resident in psychiatry, Medical College of Alabama, 1964-1965; assistant professor at Vanderbilt University…

  • WEATHERBY, HAROLD LEROW, JR., 1934-

    Biography: Literary scholar; university professor. Born– April 6, 1934, in Montgomery, Ala. Parents– Harold Lerow and Lurline (Pierson) Weatherby. Education– Vanderbilt University, B.A., 1956; Yale University, M.A., 1957, Ph.D., 1962. Taught English at Vanderbilt, 1962-. Member– Phi Beta Kappa. Source: Contemporary Authors online Publication(s): Cardinal Newman in His Age; His Place in English Theology and…

  • WALKER, BOB HENRY

    See Walker, Robert Henry, Jr.

  • WALKER, ANNE KENDRICK, 1880-1966

    Biography: Journalist. Born– November 19, 1880, in Eufaula, Ala. Parents– John Absalom and Eliza Jane (Kendrick) Walker. Education– Private tutors; Miss Crozier’s School for Young Ladies, Knoxville, Tenn. Feature writer, Birmingham Age-Herald. Later lived in New York City. Organizer of Humane Society, Birmingham. Member Nineteenth Century Art and Writers Club. Contributed articles on sociological subjects…

  • KILPATRICK, EMMETT, 1890-1968

    Biography: Legislator,  professor, attorney. Born– Nov. 20, 1890, Camden, Ala. Parents– John Young and May (Carleton) Kilpatrick. Education– Maryville College, B.A.; Johns Hopkins University, M.A., 1923; University of Paris, Ph.D., 1924; post graduate work at the University of Mexico City and University of Rennes in France. Practiced law in Camden before World War I; enlisted…

  • HOLLADAY, SYLVIA AGNES, 1936-

    Biography: College teacher of writing; auctioneer. Born– January 14, 1936, Lanett. Parents– Edward David and Florence (Hunnicutt) Holladay. Married–Thomas E. Hicks, Sr., January 16, 1997. Education– Stetson University, 1954-1956; Auburn University, B.S., 1958, M.A., 1961; Carnegie Mellon University, Doctor of Arts in English; further graduate study at University of West Florida, University of South Florida, and…

  • HILL, ROBERT McCLELLAN, 1904-1989

    Biography: Attorney, judge. Born– August 23, 1904, Birmingham. Parents– George Henley and Jessie Odom Hill. Married– Rachael Fitzgerald. Children– Two. Married –Elizabeth Craig, 1974. Education– University of Alabama School of Law, 1929. Practicing attorney, 1929-1935; with the Allied Military Government of Occupied Territories in Italy, 1943-1945; judge of the Court of the Eleventh Alabama Judicial…

  • HILL, ELIZABETH CRAIG, 1915-1992

    Biography: University professor of English. Born– December 6, 1915, Selma. Parents–Benjamin Hogan and Emma Vaughan Craig. Married– Ronald Chalmers Hood, 1940; married– Robert M. Hill, 1974. Education– Graduate of Florence State Teachers College, 1938; graduate work in English literature, University of California at Berkeley; Teachers College, Columbia University, M.A., 1964. Participant, Breadloaf Writers Conference, 1946;…

  • COLLINS, WILLARD ANDREW, 1945-

    Biography: Psychologist. Born– Guntersville. Parents–  Willard and Eunice (Hunt) Collins. Married– Carolyn Strom, 1966. Children– Two. Education– Guntersville High School, 1963;  Samford University, B.A.; Stanford University, M.A, Ph.D., 1971.  Morse-Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor of Child Development and Psychology at the University of Minnesota, 1971- ; director of the Institute of Child Development at the University. Principal investigator…

  • CLEERE, WILLIAM W., 1884-1969

    Biography: Physician. Born–October 16, 1884, Newburg, Franklin County. Parents– Dr. William Wadkins Cleere and Eliza F. Cleere.  Married– Velma Moore (died 1922). Children–two. Married–Virginia Rawlings Temple, April 6, 1929..  Education– Vanderbilt Medical School, M.D. Served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War I. Practiced medicine in Franklin County for more than forty years. Died November…

  • LANCASTER, EDWIN BRAGG, 1898-1981

    Biography: Architect. Born– Dec. 7, 1898, York, Ala. Parents– Benjamin Washington and Mary Emma (Bragg) Lancaster. Married– Minnie Lucile Morgan, June 30, 1922. Children– Two. Education– Alabama Polytechnic Institute, B.S., 1920; class poet and art editor, 1919-1920, awarded several gold medals for scholarship. Worked as a practicing architect; taught, Alabama Polytechnic Institute, 1942-1945; acting dean,…

  • LAMONT, DOUGLAS FELIX, 1937-2006

    Biography: Economist; university professor. Born– Nov. 22, 1937, Newark, N.J. Parents– Felix Michael and Philomena Venderosa (Italiano) Lamont. Married– Janice Monk, Jan. 20, 1965. Children– Two. Education– University of Pennsylvania, B.S., 1959; Tulane University, M.B.A., 1960; University of Alabama, Ph.D., 1964. Served in U.S. Army, 1964-1966; taught, University of Notre Dame, 1966-1967; University of Alabama,…

  • METCALF, CLAYTON GILLIS, 1920-1999

    Biography: Merchant. Born– Brinson, Ga., October 10, 1920. Parents– Roderick Anthony and Thelma Bessie (Gillis) Metcalf. Married– Helen Josephine Smith, April 6, 1947. Children– Three. Education– Associate of Arts, 1941; B.S., University of Florida, 1946 . Employed by U.S. Army, World War II; officer training, Ft. Benning; Command and General Staff College. Employed with family’s…

  • SMITH, ANITA, 1942-

    Biography: Journalist. Born– Alexander City, Ala., in 1942. Education– graduated from School of Journalism at University of Alabama. Reporter for Atlanta newspaper and interested in medical subjects, being one of female reporters to write on open-heart surgery; covered Gov. Lurleen Wallace’s fight against cancer. In college received John Luskin Award for academic achievement and named…

  • WRIGHT, HUGH ELLIOT, JR., 1937-

    Biography: Editor; manager; Methodist clergyman. Born– November 20, 1937, in Athens, Ala. Parents– Hugh Elliot and Martha Angeline (Shannon) Wright. Married– Juanita Ruth Bass, December 30, 1963. Education– Birmingham Southern College, A.B., 1959; Vanderbilt, M.Div. 1962; Harvard, D. Ministry, 1967. Methodist minister, Baxter, Tenn., 1963-1964; Nashville, Tenn., 1965-1966; field secretary, Tennessee Heart Association, 1964-1965; assistant…

  • HIGDON, BETTINA BLANCHE PEARSON, 1920-2008

    Biography: Teacher, librarian; genealogist. Born– March 9, 1920, Bessemer. Parents– Arthur Richmond and Mildred Celeste (Bradley) Pearson. Married– Raymond Earl Higdon, June 13, 1948. Married–James Farrar Burns, November 20, 1988. Education– Alabama College (Montevallo), B.A., 1941, M.A., 1960; postgraduate work at Auburn University and University of Alabama. Teacher in Cullman County, 1941-1974, except for four…

  • FUNDABURK, EMMA LILA, 1922-2006

    University professor, economist. Born– December 14, 1922, Luverne. Parents– Albert Donlin and Lila (Douglass) Fundaburk. Education– Alabama College, 1940-1942; University of Mexico, summer 1942; George Washington University, A.B., 1944; Northwestern University, M.A., 1946; Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1963. Held positions in government and industry; teacher, Huntingdon College, 1950; Ohio State University, 1958-1963; University of Hawaii;…

  • CARMICHAEL, EMMETT BRYAN, 1895-1985

    Biography: Biochemist. Born– September 4, 1895, Shelbyville, Mo. Parents– George Frank and Amelia Grant (Tingle) Carmichael. Married– Lelah Marie Van Hook. Education– University of Colorado, A.B, 1918, M.S., 1922; University of Cincinnati, Ph.D., 1927.  Served in U.S. Army, WWI. Taught at the University of Colorado, 1919-1924; at the University of Cincinnati, 1926-27;  at the University…

  • EMMET, RICHARD PERRINO, 1929-2011

    Attorney, judge. Born– April 13, 1929, Albertville. Parents– Joseph Herman and Nanna Rose (McMullan) Emmet. Married– Elizabeth Thigpen, October 22, 1955. Children– Five. Married– Amy Hinson. Education– University of Alabama, J.D., 1955; J.D., 1956. U.S. Army, Korean War. Admitted to the bar in 1955 and practiced law until 1959. Served as judge of the Family…

  • ANDREWS, MARSHALL, 1899-1973

    Biography: Editor, reporter; operations analyst.  Born– June 15, 1899, Memphis, Tenn. Parents– Daniel Marshall and Adeline Baker (Van Court) Andrews. Married– Cora Wells Means, June 21, 1926 (died 1971). Children– Three. Married– Patricia Wilson. Education– Alabama Polytechnic Institute in 1917, 1919-1920. Employed as a reporter and editor for newspapers and press services in the Midwest…

  • ATCHISON, RAY M., 1921-2013

    Biography: University professor of English. Born– October 8, 1921, Shelby County. Parents– Edward W. and Jessie (Barber) Atchison. Married– Geneva Doris Teague, 1948. Children– Two. Education– Howard College, A.B., 1943; George Peabody College, M.A., 1947; Duke University, Ph.D., 1956.  Served in the U.S. Army, WWII. Taught English at George Peabody College, 1946-1947; Samford University, 1947-1992. …

  • CLAY-CLOPTON, VIRGINIA CAROLINE TUNSTALL, 1825-1915

    Biography: Socialite; political hostess. Born– January 16, 1825, Nash County, N.C. Parents– Dr. Peyton Randolph and Ann (Arrington) Tunstall. Married– Clement Claiborne Clay, February 1, 1843. Married–Judge David Clopton, November 29, 1887. Education– Attended a private school in Tuscaloosa and graduated from the Nashville Female Academy in 1840. Clement Clay was elected to the U.S. Senate, 1853,…

  • FOREMAN, MARY DOUGLAS FUNDABURK, 1925-

    Artist; book designer. Born– January 8, 1925, Luverne. Married– Max M. Foreman, June 7, 1950. Children– Three. Education– Huntingdon College; Ohio State University, B.F.A., 1946. Also studied at Troy State Teachers College and Columbia University. Source: Alabama Public Library Service Files. Publication(s): Pocket Guide to the Location of Art in the United States. Luverne, Ala.;…

  • FORD, JESSE HILL, JR., 1928-1996

    Novelist. Born– December 28, 1928, Troy. Parents– Jesse Hill and Lucille (Musgrove) Ford. Married– Sally Davis. Children–four.  Married Lillian Pellettieri Chandler. Education: Vanderbilt University, B.A., 1951; University of Florida, M.A., 1955; University of Oslo, 1961-1962. Reporter for the Nashville Tennessean while at Vanderbilt. Served as a naval officer during Korean War. Employed as news writer by the…

  • RONNER, JOHN

    Biography: Author; journalist. Born– Piedmont. Married. Education– Jacksonville State University, 1969-1971; University of Alabama, B.A., 1973. Worked part time for Piedmont Journal, while still in high school; college intern reporter for the Anniston Star, staff writer for Associated Press; feature writer for a newspaper in Bavaria, Germany; editor of the Palm Bay Sun, police and…

  • HOWARD, ELIZABETH SIMMONS, 1926-

    Biography: Teacher. Born– September 12, 1926, Gadsden. Parents– John Moses and Ethel (Gilchrist) Simmons. Married– Max James Howard, March 19, 1948. Children– One. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1948. Employed by the Research Dept. at the University of Alabama, 1948-1950; assisted Dr. James B. Sellers in writing the History of the University of Alabama.  Teacher, Fort…

  • HOUGHTON, MITCHELL BENNETT, 1844-1925

    Biography: Businessman. Born– September 14, 1844, Heard County, Ga. Parents– William Henry and Eliza Ann (Bennett) Houghton. Education– Dover Academy, Columbus, Ga. Served as private, Glenville Guards of Barbour County, which became Company H, Fifteenth Alabama Regiment of the Confederate State Army; fought in the battles of Second Manassas, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Shenandoah Valley, Port Republic,…

  • BAXTER, RICHARD DUNCAN, 1918-2001

    Biography: Business Executive. Born– May 6, 1918, Fort Payne. Parents– Stephen Elisha and Jessie (Duncan) Baxter. Married– Viola Nancy Ellis, March 11, 1947. Children– Two. Education– Public schools. US Navy, WWII. Employed as a clerk for the Southern Railway Company, 1936-1954; worked for Kingsberry Homes Corporation as traffic manager, 1954-1956, purchasing agent and traffic manager…

  • CLEMMONS, GERTRUDE ALEXANDER, 1903-1986

    Biography: Teacher. Born– July 1, 1903, Millport. Parents– Andrew Alexander and Eudora Amanda Woolbright Alexander. Married– Luna Greene Clemmons, 1940. Education– Livingston State College; University of Alabama, B.Ed., 1947, and M.A., 1952. Taught at Gordo in Pickens County for several years.  Died July 10, 1986. Source: Files at Alabama Department of Archives and History. Publication(s):…

  • BROWNE, RAY BROADUS, 1922-2009

    Biography; Scholar of popular culture; University professor; editor. Born– January 15, 1922, Millport. Parents– Garfield and Anne Browne. Married–(1) Olwyn Carmen Orde (died 1964); (2) Alice Pat Matthews, August 1, 1965. Children–Three. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1943; Columbia University, M.A., 1947; University of California at Los Angeles, Ph.D., 1956. Military service:  U.S. Army, 1943-46. Instructor of…

  • BUCHER, GEORGE CURTIS, 1925-2008

    Biography: Engineer; NASA administrator. Born– December 15, 1925, Ferguson, Miss. Parents– George H. Bucher and Lenora Bucher. Married– Delores C. Belew. Children– Three. Education– Washington University, B.S.; University of Alabama, M.S; Oklahoma State University, Ph.D. Served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; research contract administrator with the St. Louis Ordnance District of the…

  • WILSON, LONA MAE LUCKY, 1905-1993.

    Biography: Teacher. Born– January 10, 1905, in Red Water, Tex. Parents– Robert Wallace and Virginia (Holliday) Lucky. Married– Aubrey Gresham Wilson, July 29, 1939. Children– One. Education– Livingston State University, B.S., 1932; George Peabody College, M.A., 1939; University of Alabama, A.A. certificate, 1963. Taught at Moundville, 1934-1964; Mobile, 1964-1967; Chickasaw, 1967-. Director, annual Easter pageant,…

  • LARSON, JAMES EDWARD, 1916-2014

    Biography: Political scientist, university professor. Born– Nov. 16, 1915, Woodstock, Ill. Parents– Gustave A. and Clara (Turner) Larson. Married– Eleanor Lucille Kvasnicka, June 11, 1943. Children– Four. Education– Cornell University, B.A., 1940; University of Michigan, M.A., 1947; Ph.D., 1952. U.S. Naval Reserve, 1940-1946; administrative analyst, Michigan Budget Office, 1948-1949; research associate, Bureau of Government, West…

  • JOHNSTON, GEORGE BURKE, 1907-1995

    Biography: University professor; poet; publisher.  Born– September 8, 1907, Tuscaloosa, Ala. Parents– George Doherty and Eleanor (McCorvey) Johnston. Married– Mary Tabb Lancaster, 1936. Children– Four. Education– University of Alabama, B.A., 1929, M.A., 1930; Columbia University, Ph.D., 1943. Taught, University of Alabama, 1935-1941, 1946-1950; U.S. Army, 1941-1946, then served in the reserves, retiring as lieutenant colonel;…

  • CARROLL, MERLE TILLEY, 1928-

    Biography: Teacher; children’s author. Born– April 8, 1928, Ozark. Parents– James P. and Merle Tilley. Married– James Yancey Carroll, September 16, 1950.  Children– Two. Education– Randolph-Macon College, A.B., 1949.  Taught in the public schools of Enterprise. Had stories published in Jack and Jill, Together, and National Scholastic. Honors– Southern Writers Award for Juvenile Literature, 1961.…

  • CARROLL, MARY TARVER, 1885-1955

    Biography: Author; clubwoman. Born– February 16, 1885, Bullock County. Parents– Milton and Sarah Bass Tarver. Married– Major Oscar Carroll, November 25, 1902. Charter member of the Pen Women of Alabama and of the Ozark Study Club. Vice president of the Alabama Federation of Women’s Clubs.  Awarded the Poetry Prize by the Alabama Federation of Women’s…

  • GRIFFITH, GEORGE P., 1902-1989

    Biography: Lawyer, teacher. Born–November 2, 1902.  Education– high school in Buchanan, Ga.; Southern Shorthand and Business University, 1924; Emory University, LL.B., 1926. Married– Frances Virginia Berrier, 1923. Children– Two. Served as legal apprentice, Buchanan, 1917-1925; member Georgia Bar, 1926-1966; instructor of law, Treasury Law Enforcement Officer Training School, 1930-1965. Honored with Treasury Special Service Award, 1959;…

  • COBBS, ALEATHEA THOMPSON, 1860-1953

    Biography: Leader in women’s work in Presbyterian Church in the U.S. Born– January 20, 1860, Bolivar, Tennessee. Parents– William Horton and Mary Janette Safford Thompson. Married– Daniel Boone Cobbs, a lawyer, January 20, 1890. Children– Two. Moved to Mobile in 1884 and lived there until 1937. Instrumental in the development of the Presbyterian Women’s Auxiliary.  Women’s page…

  • BROOKS, BESSIE ATKINS,1882-1964.

    Biography: Social worker. Born– August 4, 1882, Springville, Tenn. Parents– Henry Eugene Atkins. Married– Eugene Clifton Brooks, March 24, 1899. Children– Two. Education– Attended the University of Alabama and Tulane University. Was with the Jefferson County Department of Public Welfare from its beginning in 1921 to 1953. Served as president of the North Alabama chapter of the…

  • BOONE, LOUIS EUGENE, 1941-2005

    Biography: Economist; University professor. Born– May 5, 1941, Robertsdale. Parents– Louis W. and Helen (Hadley) Boone. Married– Pat Jones, May 8, 1964. . Children– Two. Education– Delta State College, B.S., 1963, University of Southern Mississippi, M.S., 1964; University of Arkansas, Ph.D., 1968. Instructor at Auburn University, 1964-1965; University of Arkansas, 1965-1967; University of Southern Mississippi,…

  • McDOWELL, MICHAEL, 1950-1999

    Biography: Screenwriter and novelist; author of horror and suspense novels.  Born– June 1, 1950, Enterprise, Ala. Parents– Thomas Eugene and Marian (Mulkey) McDowell. Education– B.A., 1972, Harvard University; Ph.D., Brandeis University, 1978. Taught screenwriting at Tufts and Boston Universities in the 1990’s. Member– National Gay Task Force, Massachusetts Fair Share. Wrote script for Beetlejuice, The…

  • McELROY, JAMES RUSSELL, 1901-1994

    Biography: Attorney, judge. Born October 1, 1901, McDowell, Ala. Parents– George Roland and Annie Laurie (Harper) McElroy. Married– Edith Ferrell, December 29, 1928. Children– Two. Education– University of Alabama School of Law, 1923-1924; LL.B., 1925,  Birmingham School of Law. Admitted to the Alabama Bar, 1924; established a private practice and served as Assistant City Attorney…

  • LYTLE, ANDREW NELSON, 1902-1995

    Biography: Author, farmer, University professor; member of the Nashville Agrarian Movement. Born– Murfreesboro, Tenn., December 26, 1902. Parents– Robert Logan and Lillie Belle (Nelson) Lytle. Lived on a farm near Guntersville. Married– Edna Langdon Barker, June 30, 1938. Children– Three. Education– A.B., Vanderbilt University, 1925; Yale University, 1927-1928.  Taught at the University of the South, 1942-1973; taught,…

  • MCDOWELL, DEBORAH E., 1951-

    Biography; Author; University professor of literature.  Born– Bessemer, 1951.  Parents–  Wiley and Jimmye Ziegler McDowell.  Education–Tuskegee Institute, B.A., 1972;  Purdue University.  M.A., 1974; Ph. D., 1979. Professor of English at Colby College, 1979-87; at the University of Virginia, 1987-.  Director of the Carter G. Woodson Center for African American and African Studies at UVA, 2008-…

  • COBB, NED, 1885-1973

    Biography: Farmer. Born– About 1885. Parents– Hayes and Liza (Culver) Cobb. Married– Hannah Ramsey, 1906 (died 1950). Children– Nine; married–Josie Travis Todd.  An illiterate Black tenant farmer in Tallapoosa County. In 1932 he was involved in the Alabama Sharecroppers’ Union. In December of that same year he was involved in a shooting with a deputy…

  • HOLCOMBE, RANDALL GREGORY, 1950-

    Biography: Economist; university professor. Born– June 4, 1950, in Bridgeport, Conn. Parents– L. M. and R. E. (Ledbetter) Holcombe.  Married–Lora Hunt Pritchett, June 18, 1983. Education– University of Florida, B.S., 1972; Virginia Polytechnic Institute, M.A., 1974; Ph.D., 1976. Employed by Center for Naval Analysis, 1973-1975; taught at Texas A & M University, 1975-1977; Auburn University,…

  • BUSBY, ROSA LEE, 1907-1992

    Biography: Auditor. Born July 9, 1907,  Birmingham. Parents– Robert Lee and Matura (Russell) Busby. Education– Studied at the Graduate School of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Auditor, U.S. Department of Agriculture, after 1931. Served with the U.S. Women’s Air Force from 1943 to 1945, in the 8th and 9th Air Forces in the European, African…

  • WEAVER, OLIVER CORNELIUS, 1914-2012.

    Biography: College professor. Born– September 20, 1914, in Camden, Ala. Parents– Oliver C. Weaver Sr., and Edna Lazenby Weaver.  Married Laura Ross Moore, 1937. Children– Two. Education– Birmingham Southern College, A.B., 1935; Garrett Bible Institute, B.D., 1939; Northwestern University, A.M., 1941, Ph.D., 1952.  Chaplain, U. S. Naval Reserve, WWII. Taught at Birmingham Southern College, 1936-1983;…